Short Cuts

Holiday Inspirations

2011-12-26T17:50:00.001-08:00

One of the great things about creating new art is the inspiration that follows. My windows led to a gift commission and a one-of-a-kind for, well, a one-of-a-kind! I was asked to create a dog/person for a Christmas gift. Now, this is no ordinary dog. Evidently, Ginger the Golden Retriever has a shopping addiction. So, here she is, dressed for a day at the mall (high-end, of course) with a quick stop at PetsMart for some sustenance.

The other figure..the "one of a kind"... is the gift I made my mother. It's true, you know. Parents much prefer the things their children make them. And, evidently, that includes adult children, too. So, here she is, out for an afternoon of gathering at her favorite haunts. Only a few of us would know that she buys more bread and celery than most people would ever need!

Hope your holidays exceeded all expectations! Happy 2012!

I Do Windows, too...

2011-12-06T06:18:00.000-08:00

More....

I Do Windows...

2011-12-06T06:01:00.000-08:00

If you're in Richmond, please take a stroll by the holiday windows at Dransfield's Jewelers in Shockoe Slip. If you're not, here are some pictures! Since photography is not my forte, I find that I can get some rather unintentional...but interesting...reflections of myself when trying to capture the windows. So, use your imaginations... place some amazing pieces of finely crafted jewelry around, pipe in a little seasonal music, turn the heat down and take a look...! The theme is "The Art of the Goldsmith". The art figures are clothed in paper creations- they all have angel wings and Dransfield's shopping bags- the tiny storefront is lit from within.

Wishing you all a heavenly shopping experience and a happy holiday season!

...now...where did I put my glasses?

2011-10-20T13:58:00.000-07:00

It's not often that I would ever invite anyone into my studio without profusely apologizing for the mess. Actually, it's not often that I would invite anyone into my studio, period! As a creative sort, it's an easy excuse to fall back on. "I'm in the middle of a gazillion projects...I don't have TIME to clean up!". Fact is, I am in the middle of a gazillion projects and I am oh-so-cramped for space. My bedroom studio is extremely "cozy" (isn't that how real estate agents describe small houses?!) Well, lucky me... my real estate holdings are about to expand!

My youngest son is happily working and having a life 2 hours away, in an apartment of his own and I have finally cleared out his room. It's the top floor of the house and it's PERFECT! Skylights, space, seclusion... I've hit the trifecta! I'm posting 2 pictures...the old space and the soon-to-be new space. If anyone sees my glasses in the "creative squalor", will you let me know?

Moving LA (without seismic tremors...)

2011-10-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

Last year's LA Times Food and Wine Expo promotion. Andrew Wahlquist did an excellent job of animating my work! On my to-do list...learn how to do this myself!

http://youtu.be/VDpfHmEKRnk

MOAK 2012 Promotion

2011-10-12T09:35:00.000-07:00

Long time, no blog! I've been busy...! I want to share a recent piece I did for MOAK ( http://www.caffemoak.com/en/coffee ) Italian coffee for their 2012 promotion. The MOAK espresso cup is, well, not just a beautifully designed cup. It also exudes good luck. So great coffee aside, drinking from this little vessel will insure lots of good things in your life! (I have GOT to get myself one of those!)

You'll see that Adam (of Eden fame) has gotten one of these delightful little talismans and, much to Eve's chagrin, prefers it to her apple...

This was a really enjoyable piece to work on. The only sketch change I received was to ensure that Eve's locks were strategically placed so as not to require 2 additional fig leaves... c'mon! It's Europe!

Diesel T-Shirt

2009-08-19T08:26:00.000-07:00

About a year and a half ago, we got a call from Diesel, the clothing company. They were interested in including my work among their artist designed, limited edition T-shirts. Here are the designs I sent them To see the one they chose, click here!

SALLY VITSKY Fall Winter 2009 - White Series - Female

AF&PA

2009-03-03T14:14:00.000-08:00

Each year since 2005, I've had the opportunity to work with The American Forest & Paper Association to create shadow-box awards for excellence in recycling. Since being a paper sculptor is a little like "hyper-recycling", it's a good fit! This year, the awards will go to a community, business, college/university and school who have had exceptional success promoting and practicing recycling efforts. I thought I'd share the process of creating these awards.These are my sketches for the finished awards. We felt a collage effect worked best to give each it's own theme.

Desk

2009-03-03T14:11:00.000-08:00

My desk turns into a mini factory! Some of the imagery is the same in each award (hands, stars, background) so I create those elements at the same time.

Floor

2009-03-03T14:09:00.000-08:00

I've always wished I were a

"tidy"artist! I'd like to think I just get carried away with the creative spirit...but, honestly, I'd rather make art than clean it up!

Ready To Go!

2009-03-03T13:06:00.000-08:00

Four finished awards! Each piece is placed into a 9"x 11" mahogany-stained shadow box and will be presented at "Paper Week 2009", the annual conference for members of The American Forest & Paper Association. This year's theme? Sustainability and the Economy.

http://www.paperweek.org/index.html

I Do Windows...

2009-02-16T07:38:00.001-08:00

I have always had a secret passion for window displays. I'm sure it started as a child with the annual excursion downtown to see mechanical Santas and elves in the (now defunct) department store windows. Out at night past my bedtime, shiny, black patent-leather shoes and holiday windows...THAT was magic! Here's a window display I did long ago for the Strawberry store on 57th St. between 6th and 7th. It's still there!
Not long ago, I was invited by Katie Ukrop of Quirk Gallery to create a window display to celebrate the arrival of "The Queen's Art", an exhibit of Elizabeth II's collection that came to The Virginia Museum. My first thought... Elizabethan collars! So, I created a dress and collar out of paper and tissue and placed "her" in a garden...The Queen's Garden, a garden of budding babies with decorative, flower-like collars.

2009-02-16T07:33:00.000-08:00

Postcard announcement for "The Queen's Garden"

2009-02-16T07:32:00.000-08:00

2009-02-16T07:31:00.000-08:00

2009-02-16T07:30:00.000-08:00

Hard to get a shot without a reflection!

2009-02-09T06:17:00.000-08:00

Welcome to "Short Cuts", a blog devoted to my artistic endeavors and an occassional "scenic detour". I've been a freelance illustrator, creating paper sculptures, for longer than I'd be willing to admit on a public forum! I hope to share some things that inform and inspire and, at risk of sounding a little too 60's, celebrate the beauty and possibilities inherent in a single sheet of paper.